Denver Executives Indicted in $1M Tariff Evasion Scheme Involving Chinese Forklifts

Two Denver-area companies and three executives are facing federal charges after allegedly evading tariffs by disguising Chinese-made forklifts as American-made and selling them to U.S. government agencies.

On August 21, 2025, a federal grand jury in Denver indicted Endless Sales Inc. (Endless), Octane Forklifts, Inc. (Octane), executives Brian Firkins and Jeffrey Blasdel, and former executive J.R. Antczak on multiple counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Alleged Scheme to Defraud the Government

Prosecutors say the defendants conspired with a Chinese national and a Chinese manufacturer to create fake commercial invoices undervaluing imported forklifts. These falsified records allegedly allowed the companies to avoid paying over $1 million in tariffs, duties, and fees.

The forklifts were then marketed to federal agencies as if they were manufactured in the United States, a misrepresentation that violated trade laws and government procurement standards.

“Defrauding the United States to profit from goods made in adversarial nations like China undermines our economic and national security,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting American taxpayer dollars, defending our national security, and holding accountable anyone who pursues illegal profits over our country.”

Charges and Penalties

• Firkins, Blasdel, and Antczak face wire fraud charges carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
• Blasdel faces an additional charge of making false statements to federal investigators.

Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater said the indictment shows the government’s commitment to stopping procurement fraud:

“Defendants fraudulently hid the origins of the products they sold the government and conspired to avoid paying tariffs. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force and its partners will continue to prosecute and hold accountable those who seek to fraudulently obtain taxpayer funds.”

National Security Concerns

Acting Inspector General Steve Stebbins of the Department of Defense emphasized:

“Today’s indictments are the result of collaboration among the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who seek to violate America’s trade laws to enrich themselves.”

Why It Matters

The indictment not only exposes a $1 million tariff evasion scheme, but also highlights vulnerabilities in U.S. procurement processes where foreign goods are passed off as domestic-made. With tariffs playing a central role in current U.S. trade policy, the case signals increased scrutiny on supply chains, import valuations, and federal contracting practices.

Source: CDLLIFE